The Hungry Owl Project is thrilled to announce our fourth annual “Evening with Owls” event at the Marin Art & Garden Center in Ross. We’ll have owl stories, short educational talks, a silent auction featuring fine art and photography donated by local artists, the opportunity to purchase gifts for the holidays AND you’ll meet the stars of the show - live owls! We’ll share information and see photos from this year’s activities. Mingle with other owl enthusiasts, nibble, drink wine, have fun - and leave with a sense of wonder. Join us for an after dinner event featuring savory and sweet treats accompanied by excellent local wine and other beverages. All food and drink will be served in and on biodegradable products. This event is a fundraiser to continue our work with schools and the public.

Register Now!
Wild Farm Alliance will bring together national and regional experts who will demonstrate how over-reactions and superficial fixes are threatening the sustainability of our food systems, human health and wildlife, while identifying alternatives. Speakers will present fresh perspectives and the latest research on critical US food safety issues since the 2006 E.coli outbreak in spinach, and reveal how agri-business practices conducted in the name of "food safety" have caused serious environmental harm and may in fact be counterproductive to keeping our food safe. Even before the spinach incident, related systemic problems were brewing.
Topics Include:
- The real and imagined risks of food pathogens;
- Food safety-induced habitat destruction and research on
the low risk posed by wildlife;
- CAFOs and the rise and spread of antibiotic resistance
pathogens;
- Onerous food safety practices imposed on family farmers
who don't grow risky crops;
- New food safety strategies being developed by farmers and
agencies.
Thursday, November 20, 2008
9am - 4pm
Free Admission, Catered Lunch Available for $15
Location:
One Fort Mason
San Francisco, CA
Register Now!

The Hungry Owl Project is excited to present “Got Gophers?” an informational demonstration by Thomas Wittman of Gophers Limited. This is sure to be an educational and entertaining presentation on non-toxic pest control. Learn about the rodents and options for pest management. See live owls. Beverages and snacks will be provided. There will be Hungry Owl Project nest boxes and Gophers Limited equipment and services available

Smog-forming pesticides cause air pollution and poison communities, yet pesticide polluters have been getting a free ride from regulations for over a decade. Finally, as a result of a lawsuit, the California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) has drafted regulations that are supposed to reduce pesticide smog emissions by 20% below 1991 levels in the Sacramento, San Joaquin Valley, Ventura, Southeast Desert and South Coast air basins. However, the regulations are too weak to protect public health and achieve the required reductions.
California communities deserve to breathe clean air now: tell regulators to reduce the use of smog-forming pesticides!

Smog-forming pesticides cause air pollution and poison communities, yet pesticide polluters have been getting a free ride from regulations for over a decade. Finally, as a result of a lawsuit, the California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) has drafted regulations that are supposed to reduce pesticide smog emissions by 20% below 1991 levels in the Sacramento, San Joaquin Valley, Ventura, Southeast Desert and South Coast air basins. However, the regulations are too weak to protect public health and achieve the required reductions.
California communities deserve to breathe clean air now: tell regulators to reduce the use of smog-forming pesticides! Attend this public hearing and voice your concerns.
4:30 pm Issue Briefing
5:00 pm Public Hearing

The San Joaquin Valley of California has some of the worst air pollution in the nation. Childhood asthma rates are higher here than almost anywhere else. Pesticides in the air are a major contributor to smog and ozone. Not only do pesticides directly affect our health, they affect our air quality as well.
Our government is obligated to protect us from pesticide air pollution. Now is the time for us to tell them how best to do it. The Deputy Director from the Department of Pesticide Regulation will be here on July 9. If pesticides are affecting you or if your children suffer from respiratory ailments like asthma, this workshop is a must for you! Come and vocalize your concerns on the use of pesticides that cause air pollution. If we want to protect our families and our communities, we must be there and let them know that we care about this issue.

The Southern Desert Region of California has some of the worst air pollution in the nation. Childhood asthma rates are higher here than almost anywhere else. Pesticides in the air are a major contributor to smog and ozone. Not only do pesticides directly affect our health, they affect our air quality as well.
Our government is obligated to protect us from pesticide air pollution. Now is the time for us to tell them how best to do it. The Deputy Director from the Department of Pesticide Regulation will be here on July 5. If pesticides are affecting you or if your children suffer from respiratory ailments like asthma, this workshop is a must for you! Come and vocalize your concerns on the use of pesticides that cause air pollution. If we want to protect our families and our communities, we must be there and let them know that we care about this issue.

The state Department of Pesticide Regulation is holding a meeting in Tulare to present their plan for new rules on use of the pesticide fumigant metam sodium. This is the pesticide which made hundreds of people ill when it drifted by air into neighborhoods of Earlimart and Arvin and fields in Mettler.
Metam sodium is used to fumigate or treat the soil before planting crops such as carrots, potatoes, and tomatoes. It can cause serious breathing problems and severe irritation of eyes, nose and throat.
The plan will require notice to neighborhoods near fields which will be fumigated, though it does not go far enough to protect public health from the dangers of metam sodium.
Our communities have suffered enough. Please attend to demand tight restrictions and clear warning notices on use of the pesticide Metam Sodium.
Public Workshops
Wednesday, May 30th
Afternoon Session 1:00 – 3:30 pm
Evening Session 7:00 – 9:30 pm

The fifth annual Environmental Health Legislative Education Days will take place in Sacramento May 22-23, 2007. At an all day training on May 22, we will learn a variety of tactics to be even more succesful in our struggle to pass health protective laws. On May 23 we'll have the chance to put those new ideas into action by visiting legislators in the State Captiol. If you are interested in attending, please contact Andrea Wilson at andrea@igc.org

Please join us for a training on pesticide drift and what you can do to protect yourself, your family and your community. the training will take place at 9:30 am in Gonzales (7 miles north of Soledad). Please contact Andrea Wilson at (415) 981-3939 x 5 for more information.

Please join us for a training on pesticide drift and what you can do to protect yourself, your family and your community. the training will take place at 6:30 pm in Gonzales (7 miles north of Soledad). Please contact Andrea Wilson at (415) 981-3939 x 5 for more information.

Lindsay Residents Find Pesticide Contamination in Their Bodies, Call for Stronger Protection; Urine Tests Correspond to Air Monitoring Data
A commonly used, highly toxic pesticide sprayed on oranges is contaminating human bodies, and the residents of Lindsay, Tulare County can prove it. A group of concerned residents, tired of seeing their children become ill during times of peak spraying, tested the air they breathe and their own bodies for the presence of the pesticide chlorpyrifos and found disturbing results.
Study results to be announced at news conference.

Community and urban settings present special challenges when it comes to managing pests. In our homes, schools, parks, golf courses and other public spaces, a growing importance is placed on using low-risk, effective and environmentally sound methods to control insects, diseases, weeds, and other pests. On November 14, 2006, researchers, educators, regulators, pest managers, and others involved in community and urban integrated pest management from across Northern California will gather in San Jose, California to share their insights and expertise in this emerging arena. The conference is focused on meeting the needs of local public agencies that are working to incorporate IPM in their internal operations. The conference will provide the audience with information about IPM principles, as well as examples of applications that are relevant to their own operations. In addition, information will be provided on the underlying need to reduce pesticide use for economic, regulatory, health and environmental reasons.

HUNDREDS NATIONWIDE TO PARTICIPATE IN TOUR CALLING FOR ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE
Simultaneous Bus Caravans to Visit Fenceline Communities Across America Suffering Serious Health Effects from Toxic Pollution
New York, NY, September 11, 2006 Communities across America are gearing up for the Environmental Justice for All, Tour '06, launched by a coalition of over 70 environmental justice, social justice, public health, human rights, and worker's rights groups to highlight the devastating impact of toxic contamination on people of color and in poor communities across the United States. Three bus caravans carrying activists, health researchers, environmental scientists, and public policy experts will tour communities in the Northeast, South, and West Coast, where people are suffering serious health effects associated with toxic pollution. Organizers say the tour will provide advocacy tools to affected communities and put pressure on Congressional leaders to make the elimination of environmental hazards a priority issue in the upcoming elections.
"This Environmental Justice Tour will bring together grassroots communities from across the country, to help them realize that they are not alone in their fight against the toxic contamination of their communities," said Hilton Kelley, a Port Arthur, TX native and national spokesperson for the tour. "This tour will also identify resources for these community groups in their struggle. A tour like this has been long overdue," Kelley added.
Stops along the Tour will include towns such as Port Arthur, TX; Newark, NJ; and Fort Ord, CA, communities that have suffered widespread and significant health effects due to the persistent presence of industrial toxins in their air, water, and food.
The low-income, African American community of Port Arthur, TX is located in the heart of Gasoline Alley, home to four international oil refineries, and some of the dirtiest air in the nation. Port Arthur is about 90% African American, with a 13.5% unemployment rate, and a quarter of its residents living at or below the poverty level. Currently, environmental justice activists in Port Arthur are battling a proposal from gasoline giant Motiva, a part of Shell Oil, to expand their facilities in Port Arthur. Activists claim that the proposed expansion, which would make the facility the largest in the nation, is an environmental injustice to the largely African American community living on the fenceline.
The largely working-class, multi-ethnic Ironbound community in Newark, NJ is home to the largest solid waste incinerator in the Northeast and numerous hazardous waste sites, including a Diamond alkali Superfund site that makes Newark the largest dioxin contaminated site in the world. Environmental activists in Ironbound are currently challenging a proposed action which would dump waste from New York City to landfills in Ironbound.
Fort Ord, an army post in Northern California is recognized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as one of the most contaminated Superfund sites in the nation. Residents of Fort Ord are routinely exposed to hazardous toxins from two leaky landfills, burning of military munitions and littered ammunition, and contaminated groundwater from the improper disposal of cleaning solvent carbon tetrachloride, a cancer causing agent.
The Tour will also stop in Gulf Coast communities, where the combined effects of global warming and toxic pollution are undermining the recovery of areas destroyed during Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
Each of these communities is engaged in solution-driven efforts that draw attention to a broken U.S. environmental protection system that defends old polluting industries instead of requiring innovative and safer technologies, and establishing safeguards for protecting human health from industrial toxins and hazards.
The Environmental Justice for All, Tour '06 was inspired at a meeting of environmental justice and public health groups from across the country who joined together to draw attention to the work of local activists in West Louisville, KY, dubbed by industry as Rubbertown.? The collaboration of these groups brought light to the one-half mile stretch adjacent to an African American neighborhood where 12 toxic industrial facilities have left the area polluted, and people sick and dying.
For more information about The Environmental Justice for All Tour, visit the website at: http://www.EJ4all.org

We need community members there to show that we are watching how the Town Council members vote on this issue.
When: 7:30 PM – most likely we will be the first on the agenda w/ children present. And yes, bring all your children! 7:40 – 8:15 PM will likely be time IPM will be addressed and voted upon. Make yourselves present and in the center area so they know we are all there for the IPM issue… Mayor normally asks how many people are there for this issue prior to placing it first on the agenda as a courtesy for the children early in the meeting, around 7:40 PM.
Please RSVP Parents for a Safer Environment Director, so we know how many are coming.

Tired of Valley air pollution?
Not sure how to really make a difference?
It's as easy as 1-2-3!
1) Sign up for the Central Valley Air Quality Coalition (CVAQ) Clean Air Action Day! Save the date: Monday, August 28, 2006.
2) Spend a day with other air quality activists to meet with state legislators to voice your concerns and experiences with air pollution.
3) Return home empowered and inspired, knowing that your message to the Capitol represents thousands of voices in the Valley that want clean air now!
The Central Valley Air Quality (CVAQ) Coalition is a partnership of more than 65 community, medical, public health, environmental and environmental justice organizations representing thousands of residents in the San Joaquin Valley that are committed to cleaning up the Valley's air. This year marks the third annual Clean Air Action Day to inform legislators of our struggle to breathe here in the Valley.
CVAQ will provide transportation, training, breakfast, and lunch . . .it’s as easy as 1-2-3! We really can make a difference.
Clean Air Action Day
August 28th 2006
Together, our voice will be heard!
Need a reason to go?
- Fresno County has the highest childhood asthma rate in the nation.
- Air pollution costs the San Joaquin Valley $3.3 billion per year in associated health care costs, missed school days, and lost workdays.
- 1,300 Valley residents die prematurely each year because of air pollution.
- Pesticides are the fourth leading cause of smog in the Central Valley
The Central Valley Air Quality (CVAQ) Coalition invites you to register for:
Central Valley Clean Air Action Day
Monday, August 28th, 2006
Join Others on a Fun and Important Journey to Sacramento to talk to legislators about Clean Air for the Central Valley!
Schedule:
* 6:00am - Leave Fresno by bus
* 7:15am - Bus stops in Merced for pick-ups
* 10:30am - Guided tour of Capitol in Sacramento
* 12:00pm - Lunch and training
* 1:00-5:00pm - Break into teams and meet with policymakers
* 5:15 pm - Return to Central Valley
Please download registration form here.

Senator Flores is having a hearing (Town meeting) including an official legislative state committee (select committee) on pesticides and air quality. There will be panelists from the following agencies, DPR, OEHHA, Ag. Commissioner, CARB, Spray Safe and CPR. There will be also time for public comments.

Hello all!
Wanted to let you know about an opportunity to meet with our legislators on pressing environmental health concerns including air and water quality, pesticides and toxins in our environment. On Tuesday, August 8 the Environmental Health Legislative Working Group (EHLWG) is organizing a mini-lobby day in Sacramento. We should be finished with all of our meetings by 4 pm.
Please call to confirm your attendence.

Pesticides Pollute Air:
Community Activists Prove Contamination
Tulare County community groups, residents and statewide organizations join together for the first ever public announcement of results from the "Drift Catcher"-a community pesticide air monitoring device developed by Pesticide Action Network-and results from a Tulare County community pesticide survey. Drifting airborne pesticides are a major contributor to ozone or "smog" in the San Joaquin Valley and can cause serious health problems such as acute pesticide poisonings and diseases such as asthma and cancer. Local groups will present recommendations to protect public health from toxic pesticide drift.
Speakers include:
* IRMA ARROLLO, Director, El Quinto Sol
* TERESA DeANDA, Central Valley Representative, Californians for Pesticide Reform,
teresa@igc.org
* Dr. MARGARET REEVES, Senior Scientist, Pesticide Action Network,
mreeves@panna.org
* LUIS ZAMORA, Community Educator
* POISONING VICTIMS: additional community members who have been poisoned by
pesticides will be available for interview

Media Training for Activists
This three-hour introductory training in Visalia will cover how to
decide what you want to say to the media (your "message") and general
tips for contacting and speaking with the media. The skills could be
used for advocacy around any issue, but we'll use examples relating
to pesticides and public health during the training. There will be
time for everyone to practice the skills covered in the training.
All welcome, whether you've never done any media work or already have
some skills!
Please RSVP to Tracey by June 21, 2006 over email or by phone.

The Department of Pesticide Regulation will be releasing the results
of the first 3 months
of air monitoring from its Environmental justice pilot project in
Parlier. Come one, come all to hear the results and tell DPR that we
want them to protect Central Valley communities from breathing toxic
air!

Integrated Pest Management is an effective, environmentally sensitive approach to pest control that relies on a combination of practices, minimizing exposure of pesticides to people and the environment.

Come to our local Tulare County meeting to discuss how to prevent pesticide poisoning. If you're worried about the health effects of pesticide drift (pesticides that drift through the air away from fields), join with other community activists to change local policies and protect yourself and your family!

Free, bilingual (English/Spanish) community meeting to discuss local pesticide issues. Information on health effects of pesticides and the problem of pesticide pollution in our air. Join with other local community members to prevent pesticide poisoning! Snacks & childcare provided.

In March 2004, the Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) released its revised draft Environmental Justice Implementation Plan. (It is available in Spanish and English on DPR's Web site, .) We would like to get feedback on it from a wide range of stakeholders. To help us do this, we are scheduling a series of dialogue sessions for community groups and others who may wish to attend. These will be informal meetings with Chief Deputy Director Paul Gosselin. We would like to hear what you like about our draft EJ Implementation Plan and what you would like to see changed. We would also like input on what you think our priorities should be regarding environmental justice.

In March 2004, the Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) released its revised draft Environmental Justice Implementation Plan. (It is available in Spanish and English on DPR's Web site, .) We would like to get feedback on it from a wide range of stakeholders. To help us do this, we are scheduling a series of dialogue sessions for community groups and others who may wish to attend. These will be informal meetings with Chief Deputy Director Paul Gosselin. We would like to hear what you like about our draft EJ Implementation Plan and what you would like to see changed. We would also like input on what you think our priorities should be regarding environmental justice.

In March 2004, the Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) released its revised draft Environmental Justice Implementation Plan. (It is available in Spanish and English on DPR's Web site, .) We would like to get feedback on it from a wide range of stakeholders. To help us do this, we are scheduling a series of dialogue sessions for community groups and others who may wish to attend. These will be informal meetings with Chief Deputy Director Paul Gosselin. We would like to hear what you like about our draft EJ Implementation Plan and what you would like to see changed. We would also like input on what you think our priorities should be regarding environmental justice.

In March 2004, the Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) released its revised draft Environmental Justice Implementation Plan. (It is available in Spanish and English on DPR's Web site, .) We would like to get feedback on it from a wide range of stakeholders. To help us do this, we are scheduling a series of dialogue sessions for community groups and others who may wish to attend. These will be informal meetings with Chief Deputy Director Paul Gosselin. We would like to hear what you like about our draft EJ Implementation Plan and what you would like to see changed. We would also like input on what you think our priorities should be regarding environmental justice.

In March 2004, the Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) released its revised draft Environmental Justice Implementation Plan. (It is available in Spanish and English on DPR's Web site, .) We would like to get feedback on it from a wide range of stakeholders. To help us do this, we are scheduling a series of dialogue sessions for community groups and others who may wish to attend. These will be informal meetings with Chief Deputy Director Paul Gosselin. We would like to hear what you like about our draft EJ Implementation Plan and what you would like to see changed. We would also like input on what you think our priorities should be regarding environmental justice.

One day fair with entertainment, food, informational booths by local companies, government agencies and non-profit organizations, hands on exhibits, and childrenÕs activities. Local and statewide pesticide activist organizations will have booths.

In the face of rising public concern over corporate interests taking priority over human health, the environment and democratic decision-making on a global scale, a growing consensus is emerging. It is the awareness that we are part of a larger environment that affects our bodies, the places we live, work and play, and the interconnected ecosystems essential to a sustainable future.

SACRAMENTO - The Department of Pesticide Regulation will hold three public workshops in August to hear comments on DPR's air quality initiative. Workshops will be held in: Oxnard, Sacramento, Parlier

Weekly, Monthly or other Repeating Events

Davis, CA: 25 Stories from the Central Valley25 STORIES: THE EXHIBIT will feature photographs on display from April 23 through August 23 at the Richard L. Nelson satellite gallery in the Buehler Alumni Center at UC Davis. 5:00pm

A photo exhibit from the communities and back roads of the Central Valley documenting women leaders struggling for environmental justice.